Tag Archives: walter dix

-Track and Field News reports that Wallace Spearmonwill move up to the 400 this summer. Spearmon said previously that he was going to run the 200 and the 400 in 2013. If he completely abandons the 200, Americans will have a huge hole to fill. Spearmon was the only Olympic finalist in London and 100-meter stars Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey don’t appear to be keen on attempting the double this season. Add in the questionable health of Walter Dix, and the Jamaican dominance in the 200 looks to be even more pronounced in the near future.

Spearmon’s 400 potential is an interesting question. His best time dates back to 2006, where he ran 45.22. The 400 is not nearly as deep as the other sprints, but at age 28 Spearmon will be at the older end of the spectrum in an event that is currently dominated by a 20-year-old. If nothing else, Spearmon could provide some help in the 4 x 400 where the Americans were upset by the Bahamas in London.

-Usain Boltwill run in the Oslo Diamond League meet on June 13th. I’m very grateful for the head’s up, but wouldn’t it be better if we could get the start lists for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix first before we look to a meet that is more than 5 months away.

Jason and I posted our weekly podcast yesterday. We cover Usain Bolt’s injury, Tarmohgeddon, David Rudisha, the guy who thinks he can break two hours in the marathon and much more.

Tomorrow, the two-day London Diamond League meet begins. Start lists are posted here.

18-year-old British sprinter Adam Gemiliwon the 100 at the World Junior Championships in 10.05. He will compete for the host country in the Olympics. Jacko Gill also won.

The IAAFannounced that Oscar Pistorius can run any leg of the 4 x 400 relay. Last year, he was required to run first to “avoid danger to other athletes.” This keeps my dream anchor leg situation intact with Pistorius vs. Bolt vs. Rudisha vs. Merritt vs. Greene. The chances this actually happens, not good. But…..

Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports, who has the most menacing byline photo on the internet, writes that Pistorius should not be allowed to run in the Olympics.

A trailer has been released from the upcoming documentary, Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive. You can see sprint coaches cringing when Bolt explains how he looks side-to-side at least twice in his typical race.

Two Canadian hurdlers who didn’t make the Olympic team ask questions of the selection process. I wonder why.

Olympic Trials champion, and prolific neck chalker, Reese Hoffadiscusses the Olympics, juggling and his height in a USA Today interview. Check out our interview with Hoffa from December 2011. It is a good one.

The Prefontaine Classic concluded yesterday at Hayward Field in Eugene with its typical array of fast times and competitive races. Aside from that, the meet also featured Liu Xiangattempting to dance, Allyson Felix bringing back the bodysuit and Abubaker Kakishaving a Nike swoosh into his hair (at about 2:05).

Much of our post-race discussion on the live chat centered around the uncertainty of the American men in the 1500. Andrew Wheating, Lopez Lomong and Leo Manzano were all non-factors in the Bowerman Mile, as was Bernard Lagat, who will be focusing on the 5,000 at the Olympic Trials. Friday’s International Mile did not provide many answers, as Matt Centrowitz looked rusty. David Torrence and Russell Brown were the lone bright spots, but neither has made an international team.

Justin Gatlin won the 100 in 9.90 and appears ready, willing and able to take on the villain role throughout the summer. His past history of doping (of which he has never admitted) stands in stark contrast with the charisma and universal popularity of Usain Bolt. 9.90 is a long way from the 9.76 Bolt just ran in Rome a few days ago in Rome, but Gatlin is putting up consistent enough times that he could pose a threat. Also, the two seem to have some history (see the last 5 paragraphs of this story where Bolt alleges Gatlin spit in his lane at a meet last year).

With each race it becomes clearer that Gatlin will make the American squad for London. Tyson Gay has yet to surface and Walter Dix suffered an injury yesterday that casts some doubt on his form. Even accounting for those two, it is tough to envision a scenario where Gatlin is outside the top three. An even more difficult proposition is seeing a way that Gatlin, even in the red, white and blue in London, is fully embraced by American fans, much less the world. Not so much for the doping past and the brash statements, but because he will be in opposition to Bolt, the track and field uniter.